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Sound Art

Our Backyard Gem – and its Name is Caramoor

April 24, 2023 by Barbara Prisament

PHOTO BY GABE PALACIO

If you’ve been to Caramoor, you already know what a treasure it is, but if you’re new to the area, or haven’t been in a while, then it’s time to discover or rediscover Caramoor’s summer music programming!

The season kicks off June 17 with a very special concert featuring the stellar vocalist Audra McDonald with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, performing classics from the American Songbook. The music continues the next day with a Hot Jazz Age Frolic featuring the Eyal Vilner Big Band (bring your dancing shoes!) and continues through August 18 with a concert on the lawn by Neal Francis, who according to Rolling Stone Magazine, “is making piano rock cool again”.

In between there are over 40 concerts, featuring performances by world-renowned artists with local ties, including Hélène Grimaud, Garrick Ohlsson, Alisa Weilerstein, Sandbox Percussion, and 2023 Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy winner Samara Joy. The summer also includes Davóne Tines, The Harlem Gospel Travelers, Brooklyn Rider, Pekka Kuusisto and Nico Muhly; Caccini’s Alcina and Handel’s Acis and Galatea, Arooj Aftab – the first Pakistani woman to win a Grammy – performing with Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily, Ukranian group DakhaBrakha, global superstar and Grammy Award winner Oumou Sangaré, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The American Roots Music Festival featuring Brandy Clark, the Jazz Festival featuring Cécile McLorin Salvant, and much more.

On July 2, the Westchester Symphonic Winds return for the popular Pops & Patriots concert, and on July 8, Ted Sperling will host a very special program titled “Over the Rainbow: The Songs of Harold Arlen”.

Caramoor is located on an 80-acre estate in Katonah NY and offers music lovers exceptional curated concert events across genres in incomparable settings.

In the words of Kathy Schuman, Caramoor’s Artistic Director: “Each summer, we try to curate an extremely broad variety of music, and one of the most fun parts of my job is choosing, from among our many beautiful venues, the perfect setting for each performance, whether it be orchestras and opera in the dramatic Venetian Theater, chamber music in the intimate Spanish Courtyard, Saturday morning deep listening in the Sunken Garden, casual global, jazz, or American Roots concerts on picnic-ready Friends Field and, of course, our all-day, multiple stage festivals and annual free site-specific event (Ted Hearne’s Farming with The Crossing this year). With so many different ways to enjoy music at Caramoor, I truly believe experiencing a performance here is unlike anywhere else in the greater New York area.”   

Audra McDonald performs June 17th (photo by Gabe Palacio)

Caramoor’s grounds will open for summer on June 4 with Soundscapes, a free event, in which everyone is welcome to discover a fascinating world of sounds through Caramoor’s Sonic Innovations sound art exhibition featuring live performances and the opportunity to meet the sound artists while exploring this unique and innovative collection spread throughout Caramoor’s wooded paths and grounds.

A second free event takes place Sunday, July 9, when The Crossing, conducted by Donald Nally, performs FARMING, a stirring new oratorio by Ted Hearne written specifically for this choir and scored for 24 vocalists with guitars, keyboard, and percussion, set near Caramoor’s Sunken Garden, allowing the audience to explore and listen to this explosive work as it unfolds.

New this summer are two Saturday afternoon indoor recitals in the Music Room, a Concerts for Little Ones series offered in July, and a collaboration with the Bedford Riding Lanes Association in which attendees of Caramoor’s Music & Meditation in the Garden programs on July 1st and 15th can add a pre-event 45 minute, 1.75 mile hike before joining the mindful listening program in the Sunken Garden.

Edward J. Lewis III, Caramoor’s President and Chief Executive Officer, elaborates: “True to the vision of our founders, Caramoor is the place where you can be transformed by the convergence of an exciting and diverse mix of remarkable live music performances, stunning gardens and grounds, and the beauty of an art-filled historic home. The Caramoor experience leaves both the artist and audience refreshed and renewed and compels all to return again and again.”

Whether you go to see a favorite artist, or to discover a new one, build in some time to explore the grounds and gardens, tour the historic Rosen House, discover the sound art, and enjoy the lively picnic scene with friends and family, a visit to Caramoor is sure to leave you renewed and inspired!

Information and tickets: caramoor.org

Filed Under: Gotta Have Arts Tagged With: Audra McDonald, Backyard Gem, Caramoor, concerts, Concerts for Little Ones, Curated Concert Events, farming, Music & Meditation, Musical Artists, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Over the Rainbow, Pops and Patriots Concert, Sound Art, Soundscapes, Sunken Garden

How Caramoor’s World Class Performances Resonate with its New President and CEO, Edward J. Lewis III

August 17, 2021 by Pia Haas

Edward J. Lewis III PHOTO BY DONNA MUELLER

A new era for the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts has been ushered in–from the return of in-person performances to solidifying its mission of promoting classical music and embracing a variety of musical genres. In this newest era, Caramoor’s overall vision and management falls into the capable hands of Edward J. Lewis III. As the newly appointed president & CEO, Lewis has over two decades of experience in performing arts leadership. 

Lewis previously served as Vice Chancellor for Advancement at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he is credited with “surpassing all annual and campaign fundraising goals.” He was the Senior Director of Development at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland College Park, where he led a comprehensive fundraising program.

Walkway from Venetian Theater and the artist patio looking towards the Pavillion Terrace at Caramoor in Katonah New York on August 25, 2020.
PHOTO by Gabe Palacio

As a professional violist, he is a founding member of Baltimore’s Soulful Symphony and a former member of the Dallas Opera Orchestra, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Sphinx Symphony, and Toledo Symphony. 

At the helm of Caramoor’s executive team, Lewis will help chart the course for future growth, addressing emerging issues, long-range planning, organizational structure, policy-making and institutional budgeting. “To ensure that Caramoor is a place that reflects a broad and inclusive sense of community and that delights both artists and audiences.” 

He first heard of Caramoor from radio broadcasts in the 1990s.“I recall the performances being of the highest caliber.” In October of 2020, when approached about the CEO position, he said yes, “Once I realized that everything that Caramoor offers resonates with me; world class music performances, nature and history.” 

The return of live in-person music performances at the historic 80-acre estate highlights its 76th season. The gorgeous gardens and grounds are a spectacular setting for the intimate and world-class musical performances. Indoor offerings in the Spring and Fall are housed in The Rosen House, a beautiful and “acoustically perfect venue, a work of living history, made for music,” which is included in the National Register of Historic Places.

The upcoming music room performances include a recital by renowned pianist Stephen Hough, a Vivaldi program by the British period-instrument ensemble The English Concert led by Harry Bicket, the Isaiah J Thompson Quartet, singer-songwriter Raul Midón, who blends flamenco, jazz, and R&B to create his distinctive sound, and a wonderful Christmas program by the vocal quartet New York Polyphony. And The Holiday Tea Musicales will be back in December. 

The challenges of keeping an Arts organization thriving is ensuring that it responds to the demands of the ever-evolving creativity of artists and changing expectations of audiences. “Maintaining relevancy by developing programming that helps build new audiences while maintaining current audiences will be key,” Lewis remarked. His aim is to “fully engage with the community and culture around our organization and ensure that broader diverse audiences can hear themselves in the music and see themselves reflected back from the stage.”  

Being successful in promoting classical music relies on discovering ways that entice and invite audiences to participate. To that end, he enjoys working collaboratively “with a team of passionate and accomplished creatives with the goal to help make a difference in the world.” 

For Lewis, being successful has meant “being truly happy and fulfilled doing what you love while also making a positive impact for others.” 

He grew up in a family that appreciated music. “I remember my mom having us do household chores while listening to opera, jazz, soul, and R&B.” A sixth-grade school trip to hear the National Symphony Orchestra, helped him realize that “I wanted to make and be part of the orchestral sound, the violin section in particular.” He tried the violin and learned that he had had natural talent and facility. “From then on, I knew that that’s what I wanted to do.”

Caramoor is peerless with its Sonic Innovations program of sound art exhibited strategically throughout our campus. Not many other music venues have this combined richness of experiences. – Edward J. Lewis III

He became a violist, earning his Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan. When asked if he and his Viola might be gracing the Caramoor stage this Season, Lewis cited his many responsibilities in leading the strategic direction and fundraising efforts at Caramoor, that would deny him practice time. “However, I look forward to sneaking into the Rosen House Music Room to play a Bach suite or two in those glorious acoustics.” 

At home in Chappaqua: Edward Lewis with his partner Scott Palmer. and their cat, Sandy   PHOTO BY DONNA MUELLER

And how is he settling into his new home in Chappaqua? “So far we have enjoyed meals at Crabtree’s Kittle House and Ibiza; shopping at Whole Foods, the Saturday Farmer’s Market and the occasional breakfast at Bobo’s Cafe; working out at Lifetime, and several trips to Chappaqua Paint and Hardware,” He added that he and his partner, Scott Palmer are “looking forward to exploring all that Chappaqua has to offer.” 

Audiences are invited to explore the lush grounds and magnificent gardens, enjoy a pre-concert picnic, tour the historic Rosen House, and discover beautiful music. In the Fall and Spring concerts are held in the  Music Room of the Rosen House, and in Summer in multiple venues including Friends Field, the lovely Spanish Courtyard, and in the Venetian Theater.

Caramoor is located at, 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah, NY 10536

Call The Box Office at 914.232.1252 or visit: boxoffice@caramoor.org

Entry Circle looking down center walk at Caramoor in Katonah New York on August 25, 2020.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS by Gabe Palacio
Center walk leading to The Rosen House at Caramoor in Katonah New York on September 13, 2020.

The Burgundian Library in the Rosen House at Caramoor in Katonah New York on April 15, 2018.

Afternoon Tea in the summer dining room of the Rosen House at Caramoor in Katonah New York on June 3, 2016.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Art, Caramooor, Caramoor Center, Chappaqua, classical music, community, culture, Edward J. Lewis III, Inclusive, Katonah, Music Genres, Musical Performances, Sound Art, symphony, Violist, Westchester, World Class

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